The Crown Jewel of My Eisenhower Dollar Registry Set... So Far.

I recently acquired a 1971-D "Friendly Eagle"Eisenhower dollar (Type 1 Reverse) graded PCGS MS66 from legendary Ike collector Brian Vaile. What makes this coin particularly special is that it is a VEDS (Very Early Die State) specimen.

The most interesting diagnostic feature (IMO), which proves the VEDS condition, is the presence of the re-entry vehicle (REV) at about the 10 o'clock position of Earth. This unique feature is found on no otherIke dollarsexcept the FEV. Being small and incused, it washed out fairly early in the die's life. Talk about a FIRST STRIKE! I have a FEV in MS65, and the REV is not present. It is even absent on one of Brian's other MS66 FEVs!

In our correspondence, Brian Vaile told me that out of approximately 350 FEV he's found since its discovery, only six have achieved the MS66 grade, with this one being one of the top 3 VEDS specimens. The origin of the FEV is pretty neat too. Below is an excerpt taken from the Ike Group page:

Denver was so eager to begin Ike production in July 1971 that it used eight older single chamber presses in the basement (at the time used for gold commerative production) for its first two or three weeks of 1971-D CB Ike production while the big twin-chamber Columbia presses were being readied upstairs. These first-struck Ikes, we believe, all had the FEV reverse. Our evidence? Several soft indicators and this important one: we have not found a single FEV with any signs of die-clash. The twin chamber Columbia presses had a high percentage of clashed dies but it’s an operating characteristic of the older single chamber presses to have very few clashed dies.

Link to the FEV article published on the Ike Group website, which lists ALL the distinctive features:

It just so happens that I also purchased a VEDS 1971-D Type 2 Reverse Ike (PCGS MS65) from Brian as well. I created my own side-by-side comparison images from their respective TrueView images with black arrows pointing to the distinct features. You'll notice that the Earth is more round on the FEV as well.

I am over the moon to have this belong in my registry set. It's one of the few coins that will never be upgraded (thank goodness) as there are none in MS67, although two MS66+ examples exist, not that I could ever afford one in either of those grades anyway.

However, with regards to the REV, I HIGHLY doubt that it is designed to be a re-entry vehicle. The object in question appears to be rectangular, while the reentry vehicle (Command Module, CM) was cone shaped. Even if you're talking about the combined Command and Service Modules (CSM) both ends would be conical, one because it's the CM, and the other because it's a rocket engine. Also, needless to say, the scale of the spacecraft would be WILDLY off from the Earth.

Given that I don't see that design on any other Ikes, my best guess is it's some sort of an engraving issue.

Here's a picture of the Apollo 16 CSM pointing directly at you while orbiting the Moon.

Here's the Apollo 17 CSM moving away from you while orbiting the Moon.

However, with regards to the REV, I HIGHLY doubt that it is designed to be a re-entry vehicle. The object in question appears to be rectangular, while the reentry vehicle (Command Module, CM) was cone shaped. Even if you're talking about the combined Command and Service Modules (CSM) both ends would be conical, one because it's the CM, and the other because it's a rocket engine. Also, needless to say, the scale of the spacecraft would be WILDLY off from the Earth.

Given that I don't see that design on any other Ikes, my best guess is it's some sort of an engraving issue.

Here's a picture of the Apollo 16 CSM pointing directly at you while orbiting the Moon.

Nice coin Darth. Don't you have a nightcrawler too? If you had to let one go sophies choice style would it be this one or the nightcrawler?

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Dang, Cascade. That's a tough one. Yes, I do have a Nightcrawler, which I also purchased from Brian. I would probably let the Nightcrawler go because I think it would be easier to find another one of those. Finding another VEDS FEV would be a lot tougher, me thinks. Perhaps the ONLY reason I say this is because there is another Nightcrawler available on eBay right now.

But then if I consider the extremely small population of Nightcrawlers I'm stuck wondering.... Hmmmm.

I gotta ask, what is this nightcrawler you speak of.??Never heard of it... Seems like a good variety the way you pose the question

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Here is my Nightcrawler Ike (1971-S Proof). You can see what looks like a worm to the right of the eagle's left foot/claw. It is a "hubbed thru debris" error. The last time I checked the Ike Group data, there were approximately 15-20 known examples.